Impact of COVID-19-related Stress on Preschool Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviors: The Indirect Effect of Mother’s Depression and Parenting Behavior

Joo, Young Ju; Lee, Woon Kyung

doi:10.1007/s12187-022-09946-0

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Contingent stress imposed on parents by the pandemic may further have played a role in this regard, as highlighted by an increased maternal perception of internalizing symptoms in children after the COVID-19 outbreak compared to the pre-COVID-19 era [ 97 ]. Moreover, maternal stress due to COVID-19-related restrictions has been associated with increased depressive symptoms and decreased positive parenting behaviors with negative influence on children’s internalizing and externalizing problems [ 98 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral Symptomatology in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Children’s and Parents’ Alexithymia

2022

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The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected the psychophysical wellbeing of children worldwide. Alexithymia, a personality trait involving difficulties in identifying and expressing feelings represents a vulnerability factor for stress-related disorders. Under pandemic stress exposure, we aimed to investigate the role of parents’ and children’s alexithymia in the psychophysical symptomatology shown by children and to evaluate possible differences according to age, gender and history of COVID-19 infections. The perception of parents and children about the impact of the pandemic on children’s emotional, social and physiological wellbeing was also explored. Sixty-five familial triads were surveyed in the period from March to May 2022: children (n = 33 males; mean age = 9.53, sd = 1.55), mothers (mean age = 44.12; sd = 6.10) and fathers (mean age = 47.10; sd = 7.8). Both parental and children’s alexithymia scores were significantly associated with somatic and externalizing symptomatology in children. Self-reported anger and externally oriented thinking scores were higher in younger children (age 8–9.9 years) than in older ones (10–12 years). Girls scored higher than boys in somatic complaints, as reported by parents. No difference emerged between children affected/not affected by COVID-19. Notably, children reported a greater negative impact of the pandemic on their emotional and psychosocial well-being than their parents. The findings emphasize the role of alexithymia in the occurrence of psychophysical symptoms in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reduced parental awareness of the emotional burden imposed by the pandemic on children indicates the need to better consider how epidemics affect children’s mental health and to develop adequate preventive strategies to support them in these exceptional times.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral Symptomatology in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Children’s and Parents’ Alexithymia

2022

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“…Our findings support earlier evidence on the relationship between caregivers’ anxiety and their children’s psychological wellbeing during the early stages of the pandemic. Several studies (e.g., Spinelli et al, 2020 ; Kerr et al, 2021 ; Schabus and Eigl, 2021 ; Suzuki and Hiratani, 2021 ; Joo and Lee, 2022 ) have reported the indirect association of COVID-19 parental stress and their children’s internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. Frustration related to quarantine or social distancing, living with others in confined spaces with restricted social networks, drastic disruptions in daily routines, and increased parenting demands, particularly on mothers, have been associated with parents’ mental health and behaviors predicting children’s outcomes ( Joo and Lee, 2022 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies (e.g., Spinelli et al, 2020 ; Kerr et al, 2021 ; Schabus and Eigl, 2021 ; Suzuki and Hiratani, 2021 ; Joo and Lee, 2022 ) have reported the indirect association of COVID-19 parental stress and their children’s internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems. Frustration related to quarantine or social distancing, living with others in confined spaces with restricted social networks, drastic disruptions in daily routines, and increased parenting demands, particularly on mothers, have been associated with parents’ mental health and behaviors predicting children’s outcomes ( Joo and Lee, 2022 ). However, our study revealed that not all types of caregiver anxiety positively associated with their children’s negative emotional states.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Caregivers’ anxiety and perception of their children’s wellbeing: a year into the COVID-19 pandemic

Pena-Shaff,

Heckart,

Mannion

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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The COVID-19 pandemic and related social restrictions disrupted family routines affecting millions of youths and their caregivers worldwide. This study explored the relationship between caregivers’ anxiety and their children’s emotional states 1 year after COVID-19, as well as differences between caregivers’ perceptions of their children’s emotional states and reality. Sixty-eight caregiver-child pairs completed an online survey between March 31 and May 31, 2021. Our analysis showed positive correlations between caregivers’ anxiety and children’s wellbeing, worries about children’s use of time, and a variety of negative emotional states in their children. Caregivers’ anxiety about their children’s wellbeing was negatively correlated with their children’s perceptions of self-control. Caregivers’ anxiety about their personal wellbeing was negatively correlated with children’s feelings of busyness and positively associated to their children’s fear. Caregivers’ perception of COVID-19 as a challenging experience was positively associated with some of their children’s negative emotions. Overall, caregivers were accurate about children’s emotional experiences in the previous 3 months with some exceptions: their children felt lonelier and more worried about schoolwork and grades than their caregivers realized. These findings will help researchers and practitioners further explore the sources of caregivers’ anxiety and their relationship with children’s emotions and stress management as countries move toward a new normal.

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“…This suggests that an 'supercompensation' effect on mental health may occur after lockdown. The SDQ scale has been used to study the mental health of young children during lockdown [13,14] . The SDQ has been used to study the mental health of preschoolers during lockdown, but there are no studies comparing it to pre-or postlockdown.…”

Section: Psychologicalmentioning

confidence: 99%

The 'Supercompensation' effect of children's lockdown during COVID-19: based on the analysis of changes in physical activity, sleep and psychology

Li,

Zhao,

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Objective: To investigate the "supercompensation" effect of preschoolers during COVID-19 lockdown by comparing the changes in physical activity (PA), psychological and sleep indicators before and after lockdown. Methods: 127 children (aged 3-6 years) were recruited. Before and after the lockdown, the children's PA levels were measured using the ActiGraph GT3X+, and their psychological and sleep indicators were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child Sleep Habit Questionnaire (CSHQ) respectively. Results: In terms of PA, the children's total physical activity (TPA), low-intensity physical activity(LPA) and medium-intensity physical activity (MVPA) were all higher after lock down than before lockdown, with significant differences in MVPA (p<0.05). In terms of psychology, the children's SDQ scores and multidimensional scores were better after lockdown than before lockdown, with a significant difference in SDQ scores (p<0.05). In terms of sleep, children's CSHQ scores were better after lockdown than before lockdown, with a highly significant difference in CSHQ scores (p<0.01). Conclusion: After lockdown, children's PA, psychological and sleep effects were all "supercompensation". In particular, the PA of preschoolers before, during and after lockdown may show a "baseline-inhibition-supercompensation" process.

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Impact of COVID-19-related Stress on Preschool Children’s Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behaviors: The Indirect Effect of Mother’s Depression and Parenting Behavior

Cited by 16 publications

References 82 publications

Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral Symptomatology in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Children’s and Parents’ Alexithymia

Somatic, Emotional and Behavioral Symptomatology in Children during COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Children’s and Parents’ Alexithymia

Caregivers’ anxiety and perception of their children’s wellbeing: a year into the COVID-19 pandemic

The 'Supercompensation' effect of children's lockdown during COVID-19: based on the analysis of changes in physical activity, sleep and psychology

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